Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The Democratic Debate

I'm going to see about live blogging the debate. We'll see how it goes.

17:42 PT: huh. I didn't think the republican debates did a rendition of the star spangled banner. Pandering to the patriotic side of things? We're more patriotic than the republicans? huh.

17:48 PT:

Chaffee intro: Like his snark.

Webb intro: yup, a marine.

O'Malley: feels like a politician.

Sanders: he's definitely got fire and started firing immediately.

Clinton: why am I hearing the song 'smooth operator,' starting to get some fire towards the end.

18:00 PT: Flip flopping for Clinton question. Clinton changes her opinion based on what she learns. She doesn't do a chameleon for political expediency. She's sounding a LOT like a politician though. She says she's a progressive.

18:03 PT: Sanders, how can a socialist win? um. Is that stat true? I agree about the 1% getting more than most, but...I dislike bad stats. Not a capitalist.

Clinton jumps in!

Sanders clarifies he's for entrepreneurs, not the 1%.

Chaffee: stayed with the issues, but changed party as the parties changed.

18:08 PT: O'Malley slammed for mayor and the "explosion" in Baltimore. Claims he's good guy. Zero tolerance policy called out. He replies things got better and was bad in 2003, but got better since. Not sure I buy it.

18:11 PT: Webb: affirmative action for african americans is good. Not for diversity programs that do not include poor whites.

Ok. I'm far more hawk than most on the stage. I have some sympathy with sanders POV, but webb made a good point. can sanders convince congress to participate? Or will a Sanders presidency be a waste of time? How good is he at working across the isle?

No coronation (19:34):

Clinton: woman president the ultimate outsider. I'm the awesome. really.

O'Malley: already had this conversation. no coronation. new leadership.

Clinton: no voting for me for my last name. Nope. has nothing to do with it. nuh uh. really. gah.

O'Malley: I have a plan. 100% clean electric grid. engineering challenge from the get go. um. I think I see some regulatory issues here and some wishful thinking.

Feed stuck. grr.

Sanders: dang. fossil fuel companies funding the republicans.

Clinton to respond but my feed jammed again.

Look this one ought to be easy. End coal use first, then move onto oil. finally natural gas. its not going to happen in a lifetime. GLOBAL WARMING IS INEVITABLE.

feed back.

Paid maternity:

Clinton: paid maternity. how to pay? Republicans to blame. we can afford by making the wealthy pay.

Sanders: all major countries allow maternity. embarrassed for this. this is doable.

O'Malley: expanded family leave. can do this.

Recreational Pot:

Sanders: would vote for recreation marijuana.

Clinton: only medical marijuana. stop imprisoning for MJ use.

Compromising with Republicans:

Sanders: yes, republicans are being obstructionist. only way to work with them is vote them out.Break:

ok. that tells me Sanders will not be able to work with the current republicans. not sure it would be possible anyways, but LBJ promised, cajoled and threatened to get what he wanted. He was a loathsome man sure as shoot did some big and good things. Surely one of these political turkeys can use their quills to get the republicans to break ranks. good grief.

Final Question:

Which enemy are you most proud of:

Chaffee: coal lobby.

O'Malley: NRA.

Clinton: NRA, insurance company, iranians, republicans.

Sanders: wall street pharmecuetical industry

Webb: soldier who tried to kill him. I'm a marine.

Final statements:

Chaffee: vote me! I'm honest! best qualified. no scandals!

Webb: don't believe the promises and rhetoric. I'm a marine. grmph. grmph. But also can cut threw and make things work. I'm a leader.

O'Malley: we are better than the republicans. he's slamming the repugnants about the R debates. Damnit, he's right. As a Republican, I'm hanging my head in shame here.

Sanders: we are a great country, but we have serious problems. Nobody can fix it unless people stand up to 1%. Fund me! No SuperPAC here.

Clinton: Real debate here, where the republicans are a joke in their debates. Who has the best ability and track record. Support me. Pol ending

Ok. Sanders did a good job. Better than I thought he would. I worry he won't be able to get things done though with any even moderate opposition.

This race is between him and Clinton. The believer and the money. The others are also runs. IMO.

Thanks for the great feed and commentaries. Quite the mess. I am really having trouble seeing anyone to vote for on any side right now, but gotta figure out someone. Every time any of the candidates says something sensible, they seem to follow it up with something jarringly wacky. This is going to be a long election cycle.